Matthew Hatton could not produce the quality of his brother Ricky as he had to settle for a draw against Lovemore N’Dou for the fringe IBO welterweight title in Stoke.

The Manchester boxer staged a late rally but it was still not enough to earn the biggest win of his career as the judges scored it 115-114 to either boxer and the third seeing it a 114-114 draw.

It meant N’Dou kept his title and Hatton was denied the win that would have sent him towards bigger things.

Bruising battle: Matthew Hatton in action against Lovemore N'Dou

Ricky, who has yet to decided whether he will box on following a second career knockout loss to Filipino Manny Pacquiao in May, was left as frustrated as his brother in the second big show he has promoted.

Hatton, 28, was facing the best opponent of his nine-year professional career and a former world light-welterweight champion who two years ago was linked to a fight against his more successful elder brother.

Australia-based South African N’Dou, 38, had taunted Hatton before the fight by branding him ‘a donkey’ and claimed he did not deserve to be in the same ring as him.

But Hatton has revived his career since a points defeat to Manchester rival Craig Watson two years ago for the Commonwealth title.

He has prospered under new trainer Lee Beard and believed he was in the form of his life as he climbed into the ring at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex for a show promoted by Ricky.

You can't both be right: Matthew Hatton and Lovemore N'Dou celebrate after their welterweight clash

Ricky walked behind Matthew to the ring and then barked out instructions from the first row as Matthew made the better start.

But N’Dou, who could not spar for five weeks before the fight due to a cut, emerged as a threat in the fourth round with his right hand missiles.

N’Dou grew in confidence and in the sixth launched a prolonged assault as Hatton - unlike the way Ricky fights - became more reserved.

Hatton rallied in the seventh, but the fight seemed close moving into the latter rounds especially after N’Dou had unloaded a barrage of unanswered blows in the ninth round.

But N’Dou tired late in the fight and Hatton took advantage to finish strong and felt he had done enough at the end to get the decision.